Morgan State football "humbled" by 15-14 loss to Norfolk State on Saturday

Bears' two-game winning streak came to an end in setback to previously winless Spartans

September 30, 2014|By Edward Lee, The Baltimore Sun

For the third time this season, Morgan State lost a game by less than a field goal. But unlike setbacks to Eastern Michigan on Aug. 30 and Holy Cross on Sept. 6, there was something different about Saturday’s 15-14 loss to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foe Norfolk State.

The Bears had entered the contest on a two-game winning streak, and the Spartans wallowed their way through an 0-4 start. But Morgan State (2-3 overall and 1-1 in the league) couldn’t prevent Norfolk State from scoring a game-winning touchdown with 29 seconds left in regulation.

Bears coach Lee Hull admitted Tuesday morning during his weekly conference call arranged by the MEAC that the loss stung.

“We were very humbled,” he said. “I think we were a little bit overconfident as a team, and they learned. This is a learning experience for all of us – me being a first-time head coach and our players. They have not been in these types of games and situations before, but you have to be in these types of games to learn how to win. Hopefully, this was a learning experience for us against Norfolk, and we won’t let it happen again.”

Morgan State has dropped all three of its contests by a combined seven points as the team continues to struggle with closing out games. But Hull said the players have remained upbeat, and that positivity has apparently rubbed off on their coach.

“Right now, I’m not frustrated because I know it’s a learning experience,” Hull said. “The more you’re in these types of games, the more you’re going to learn how to win these types of games. I’d rather be in these types of games than getting blown out and we don’t have a chance to win. These are all learning experiences for our guys, and that’s how we’re taking it. So I’m not frustrated by it at all.”